Apparatus for transforming gelatinic colloids into globules or pearls



Jan. 18 1927 w. WACHTEL APPARATUS FOR TRANSFORHING GELATINIC COLLOIDSINTO GLQBULES 0R PEARLS Filed Nov. 9. 1925 mama Jan. 18, 1921.

WILHILI WAQHTBL, OI rmm-cnauorrannune, 03m.

APPARATUS FOR TQANSI'OBHDIG GILATINIO COLLOIDS INTO GLOBULIB OB rams.

Application fled Iavember 9, 1925, Serial No. 67,998, and in Germany Kay18, 1985.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cooling gelatinic colloids,that .is to say colloids capable of gelatinizing, by allowing them todrop into a cooling liquid, and in particular to an apparatus in whichthe liquefied colloids may solidify in the form of globules or pearls.In this case still liquid drops in descending must traverse the coolingliquid for the purpose of solidifying to separate globules or pearls,without coalescing or sticking to ether.

It is very iin ortant t at the formation of such pearls s ould proceedin a continuous manner, and the object of this invention is to provide asuitable apparatus which will enable this to be done. In thisconnection, difficulties in two directions have to be overcome. On theone hand arrangements must be provided which enable the finishedproducts to be removed in a uniform and continuous manner, withoutaffecting the depth of the liquid in the cooling bath, and on the otherhand, any interru tion of the solidifying process must avoided. Thedrops entering the solidifying bath must travel. a certain distancethrough this bath until they have become so far solid that they will notlose their shape or cake together during subsequent removal. It is onlyafter a certain time has elapsed that the globules or pearls formed canbe handled, without damage in the manner necessary for continuousremoval. It is essential that the still perfectly liquid drops must notbe disturbed in any way at the moment of entry into the cooling bath,since that would cause them, on the one hand, to lose their perfectlyglobular shape, and on the other would lead to the coalescence ofseveral drops into one, or cause a number of globules to cake together,with the result that the pearls would vary in size or flow together intolumps. It is also important to maintain the bath liquid at a suitablelevel, to ensure the necessary length of travel of the solidifyingdrops, and also to prevent entirely any disturbance, eddying orirregular flow of the li uid cooling agent of the bath in the zone 0?primary solidifi cation.

The invention therefore consists, in the first place, in providing anapparatus for transforming gelatinic colloids into globules or pearls,consistin of a vessel char d with a cooling liqui and having means orenabling the liquefied colloid to be introduced into said liquid in theform of drops, with a lock at the discharge end of said vessel, and inaddition in providing means to produce, through the vessel and the look,a fiow of liquid which carries the solidified product away, withoutdisturbing the bath liquid in the solidification zone.

The apparatus is arranged in difl'erent ways according as the cooling liuid is specifically lighter or heavier than t e colloidal solution fromwhich the pearls are formed. Whereas, in the case of cooling liquidswhich are lighter than the collodial so ution, the apparatus may consistof a simple vessel charged with the cooling liquid and through which thesolidifying drops of liquid gradually sink by gravitation, to arrive ina solidified condition at the bottom of the vessel, where they arecarried b the-flow of the liquid through the lock, it is necessary toemploy a special form of apparatus when cooling agents tl: it areheavier than the globule-forming colloidal solution are used. In thiscase the vessel takes the form of a trough (usually covered in) with anoverflow weir at the discharge end, said trough being traversed by ahorizontal stream of cooling medium, which carries away the introduceddrops of colloid in suspension, solidifies them to pearls and dischargesthem over the weir at the outlet end. In this case the weir acts as alock and maintains the bath liquid at a constant level, and alsoprevents eddies in the lower part of the trough.

Liquids which are adapted for use in such a process and with such anapparatus are, for example, trichlorethylene and tetrachlorethane whichare specifically heavier than the collodial solution and areparticularly adapted for use with the ap aratus shown in Figs-2 and 2described ereinafter. Benzol, benzene and carbon disulfid arespecifically lighter than the collodial solution and are particularlyadapted for use as liquids in the device shown in Fig. 1.

According to the invention, in order to prevent the colloidal dro sfalling into the intake end of the troug from being destroyed or driventogether b the inflowing cooling liquid, the current 0 cooling liquid isadmitted into the trough at such a distance up-stream in relation to thedevice supplying the drops of colloid that the liquid flows, free fromeddies, at the point where the drops of colloid enter.

Two embodiments of apparatus of thisin 'vention are illustrateddiagrammaticall in moving portions of the liquid and the granulestherein "from time to time.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, in which solidifying liquidsspecifically lightgfit than the colloidal solution such as benzo'benzine and carbon disulfid are intende to be used, the comparativelytall vessel .1, containing the solidifying liquid, may be provided atthe upper end with a dropping sieve, above which is located the chamberfor the reception of the dissolved colloid.

Internally, the vessel is provided with a cooling coil 3 which is keptout of contact with the collodial drops b the shoulder 4, and istraversed by brine rom the intake 5 to the outlet 6.

At the lower end, the vessel tapers to a point at 7.

In the typical embodiment, the removal of the solidified drops iseffected by the continuous admission, at 8, of liquid which carries thesolidified drops with it into the upwardly bent pipe 9 connected to thebottom end 7 of the vessel, and delivers them at the point of discharge10 on to any known type of separating device, such as a jig screen,screening drum, perforated belt or the like, where the liquid drainsaway from the fin- I ished pearls.

With this method of removing the drops, the vessel can be left withoutany cooling device, the solidifying liquid being cooled outside thevessel and then returned to the vessel in a continuous circulation.

On the other hand, however the removal of the drops can be effecteddlrectly at the point 7, continuously or intermittently, by arrangin atthat point any of the known lock devlces such as twin weirs, revolvinglocks, rotation pumps, double slides with an intermediate space, or thelike.

Fig. 3 shows the employment with the tank 1 and its reduced bottom 7 ofan enlarged section 7 which has a discharge pipe 9 connected therewith:in the enlargement 7 is located the addle wheel of a rotatable pump 25.In ig. 3 the enlargement 7 has associated therewith a plug 26 which hasthe rear passages 27 therethrough to permit the passage and discharge ofa quantity of the'coolin liquid and of the solidified granules. In Fig.3 the enlargement 7 has a similar plug 28 therein which has a passage 29therethrough to form a revolving ules. In Fi 30 and 31 w iich aresupported by a chamber 32: by appropriate movement of this double slidearrangement with successive movement of the slides, portions of theliquid and granules are drawn ofl from time to time. In Fig. 3 theenlargement 7 contains a bucket wheel 33 for the same purpose. In theform shown in Figs. 3, 3", 3 and 3 the rotatable element may be actuatedby power or by hand either continuously or intermittently, in knownmanner.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, which is employed with liquidsspecifically heavier than the colloid such as trichlorethylene andtetrachlorethane, the solidification vessel takes the form of a coveredhorizontal trough 1' traversed by the solidification liquid, and isprovided overhead, with a similar dropping sieve for the admission ofthe colloidal solution.

The vessel must be arranged so that the liquid entering at 11 flows,without eddies, under the drooping sieve, in order to prevent the stillliquid drops of colloid from being whirled into contact and therebycaked together.

This result can be achieved by locating the inlet for the liquid at apoint 11 a suitable distance upstream from the inlet 2 for the drops.

At the outlet, an overflow weir 12 is provided which maintains the levelof the liquid in the trough at the re uisite height and prevents theformation 0? eddies; and over which the pearl shaped product is carriedby the flow of liquid to the outlet 13.

In this case, the solidification liquid is cooled in a coilv 18, throughwhich it flows from 19 to 11, whilst cooled brine flows, in the oppositedirection, from 20 to 21. The cooling may, however, be effected directlyin the vessel 1, as in the first example.

The outflow from the vessel at 13 leads, in this case also, to aseparating device as in the first example.

Claims:

1. In an apparatus for transforming gelatinic colloids into globules orearls comprising a vessel adapted to be lled with a cooling liquid,means to form the colloid into drops and to pass such drops into theliquid, a look at the outlet end of the vessel, and means to produce aflow of liquid through the vessel and the lock to carry away thesolidified globules without disturbing the bath liquid.

2. In an apparatus for transforming gelatinic colloids into globules orpearls comprising a trough ada ted to be filled with a cooling liquidspeci cally heavier than the colloid, means to form the colloid intodrops and to pass such drops. into the liquid, an overflow weir at theoutlet end of said lug for the passa' of the liquid and gran- 3 t e pipe9 contains 2 slides cooling liquid for said colloid, a droppin l5 deviceto form the colloid into drops an deliver the latter into the liquid,means to pass liquid through said vessel and maintaining the liquidadjacent mid dropping device substantially free from eddies, and .20

means to withdraw liquid and solidified granules from said vessel whilemaintaining the liquid level and eddyless condition thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 25 name to this specification,

WILHELM WAGHTEL.

